You can have the best security system on the market, but nothing is going to stop a natural disaster in its tracks. From earthquakes to devastating storms, there’s nothing worse than going through the turmoil of having your home targeted by Mother Nature. Luckily, there’s a clear path to take when dealing with natural disaster damage – simply follow the short guide below.
Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
The most important thing to do during and following a natural disaster is to ensure everyone stays safe. If you’re being evacuated, make sure you stick with each other – if you can. Additionally, you should make sure you have an emergency kit ready for everyone and have irreplaceable documents on-hand; fire-safe boxes are the perfect solution.
You may get split up from your loved ones during the chaos, which is why we recommend keeping a crank radio, which will help point you in the direction of emergency provisions. If you have pets, you need to draw up a plan of action for them. Take down the names of all shelters that will accept pets and remember to pack them in a bag too.
Assess All Damage
Once nature’s wrath calms down and you’re allowed back home, you’ll need to gauge the damage done to your home. For insurance purposes, we recommend taking pictures and writing a full account of the damage.
File Insurance Claim
Hopefully, you have sufficient homeowners’ insurance to cover repair and loss costs. After a large-scale natural disaster, insurance companies are going to be flooded with claims. Therefore, we recommend sending in your photos, documentation, and claim form as soon as possible. Whether you know the full extent of any damage or not, letting your insurance provider know about the likelihood of damage will go a long way.
Find Contractors for Repairs
Whether your home has been ripped apart by a hurricane or suffered significant ice damage, you’ll need to find contractors to get started on repairs. Luckily, several national services prepare for natural disaster recovery. All you need to do is get in touch with a reputable organization to see what support they can send.
Track Expenses
While emergency rep
airs are carried out on your home, make sure you keep invoices and track all expenses. You will likely be living in temporary accommodation at this point, so make sure you’ve got somewhere safe to store them. As well as repair costs, we recommend documenting medical expenses and any additional living expenses; insurance payouts may compensate for this.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Natural disasters are challenging for everyone involved, but they evoke a sense of community – both locally and nationally. If you need support with anything, don’t shy away from asking for help, whether that be from a national organization like FEMA or the community.
The ordeal of a natural disaster will be stressful enough, and that’s before you realize the extent of damage done to your home. However, you need to be proactive by assessing the damage, filing your insurance claim, and having emergency repairs carried out.